Humes hails Colchester spirit

Tony Humes saluted Colchester's character after they recovered to beat Chesterfield 2-1 and continue their recent improvement.

Freddie Sears netted an excellent late winner for the U's, who have come from behind to claim something in each of their last three league matches. Chesterfield went ahead after barely a minute when Sam Clucas fired past Sam Walker after Colchester defender Frankie Kent had been hit in the face with the ball from point-blank range to leave him lying on the floor. But substitute Rhys Healey equalised five minutes after half-time when he finished emphatically from Sanchez Watt's pass and Sears curled a delightful shot into the top corner from Gavin Massey's pass with four minutes remaining to win it for Colchester. U's boss Humes said: "It's another game we've come from behind in to take the points and it grows belief and a real team spirit. "We're delighted to win the game after having the early setback of conceding the goal and losing Frankie Kent in the first minute (to injury). "We were on the back foot straight away from the outset and we weren't as fluent or controlled as we had been. But we battled, we showed character and stuck together and scored two fantastic goals to win the game. "We didn't have the controlled possession that we've had in the first half. But we scored two fantastic goals and it's a fantastic boost in terms of getting our second home win of the season. "Freddie (Sears) is in fantastic scoring form and he gets in good areas. He's an intelligent striker and when you have bright players who can score goals, you've got a chance in a game." Chesterfield have won only one of their last seven matches and manager Paul Cook admits they need to be better. He said: "We're all very disappointed - it was a tough night for football and I sense we're not right. "In the first half we worked hard in being hard to break down. But you can just sense that we're not right and it's down to us to work harder as a group and as a club to come through it. "It's all about players and standing by them but I've sensed for a while that we're just not right and I think this performance has reiterated what I think I've seen. "There were a few good spells but we've had that in all of the games we've played and that's what separates teams. "We came up against a very good Colchester side who had great movement and work ethic and scored two great goals. You have to give them credit for winning the game but we'll go back and look at ourselves."